Firms ‘will need to separate office supplies for recycling’

UK businesses have been advised that new environmental legislation is coming into effect on October 30th which will require certain office supplies to be separated for recycling.

The New European laws will specify that business waste must be pre-treated to minimise how much waste – including office products – are sent to landfills, according to environmental communications firm Sauce Consultancy.

Pre-treatment is defined as "a physical, thermal, chemical or biological process, which includes sorting". It must also change the characteristics of the waste to reduce volume or facilitate handling.

Compaction does not meet these guidelines, but recycling office supplies does fulfil the requirement, the consultancy advises.

It states that small office-based businesses "could separate out office Paper and other dry recyclables, such as drink cans, for a separate collection".

Printer cartridges are also "easily recycled", the firm suggests.

"But make sure you collect evidence of this. In addition, there are revised Duty of Care regulations that will come into force," it adds.

"These may require that you detail any pre-treatment (for example, segregation of recyclables) on the waste transfer note, so make sure you keep hold of this important information."

Waste firm Shanks recently announced that it has invested in a new service for businesses to recycle smaller volumes of waste.

At Paperstone we can supply your firm with a wide selection of office supplies.